Descriptions & requirements

Job description

● Principle Data Scientist

Location: National*

Closing Date: 4^th August 2025

Interviews: w/c 1^st September 2025

Grade: Grade 7
(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)

Salary:
£56532 - £73450 National (which may include an allowance of up to £16918)
£61201 - £78225 London (which may include an allowance of up to £17024)

Working pattern: full-time, part-time, flexible working,

Contract Type: Permanent

*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP

The Role

We’re recruiting for a Principle Data Scientist here at the Ministry of Justice, to be part of our warm and collaborative Data Science and AI Hub.

This role aligns against Principle Data Scientist from the Government Digital and Data Framework

The Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. We work to protect and advance the principles of justice. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society. We are passionate about improving justice outcomes through innovative research, data and analysis.

The Data Science & AI Hub

We are a multi-disciplinary team of around 70 staff that sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice providing data science support across a diverse and exciting agenda. We work in a dynamic and fast-paced context and our skills are in heavy demand across the Ministry of Justice. Our collaborations beyond government are seen as ground-breaking.

We create a culture in which people are empowered with the data and information to make excellent decisions using cutting edge tools, techniques and collaboration and putting evidence at the heart of the justice system.

We have a track record of delivering digital services to front line staff using wide ranging data science techniques, including the award-winning safety diagnostic tool, which helps our staff tackle violence in prisons. We regularly deliver insights that directly influences corporate, operational and policy decisions. Our projects span the data science spectrum including machine learning, natural language processing, automation, advanced visualisation and optimisation.

What you’ll do

You will be leading a team of 1-2 data scientists, working within wider multidisciplinary teams, to deliver data science products and analysis. The majority of projects will be conducted using Python, R and SQL on our AWS cloud infrastructure (known as the Analytical Platform) to work with data from across the justice system. You will work closely with other data scientists, the Data Engineering Hub (which builds the tools, services and pipelines that make data available on the Analytical Platform) as well as other data, digital, policy and operational colleagues.

The role

The postholder will lead a team within the Courts, ALBs, Corporate, and Linking Data Science unit.
They will be responsible for undertaking a variety of data science projects across the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). This role involves collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders, including other data scientists, data engineers, and digital colleagues.
Projects vary in nature and scope, encompassing both leading data-driven initiatives and being embedded within digital teams. Recent examples include developing search and summary tools for legislation, creating a redaction tool to support Subject Access Request (SAR) processes, and utilising machine learning and data linking to gain insights into criminal fine enforcement.
As the Principal Data Scientist on the team, you will work with new data sources and apply advanced data science techniques to support the department's ambitious goals. Your expertise will be crucial in harnessing the latest advancements in data science to drive innovation and improve outcomes across the MoJ.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead a team of 1-2 data scientists to deliver data science products and analysis across the criminal justice system
Act as a technical specialist and coach, developing team capability, supervising other data scientists, setting coding standards for the team and championing the adoption of best practice in data science
Understand a broad range of architectures and collaborate with data engineering to design and deliver organisational products effectively
Effectively communicate with and influence senior stakeholders, working with them to remove blockers so that the team can deliver efficiently
Play an active role in making the Data Science Hub an inclusive and vibrant place to work.

If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!

Benefits

● 37 hours per week and flexible working options including working from home, working part-time, job sharing, or working compressed hours.

● A £1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best in class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms

● Staff have 10% time to dedicate to develop & grow

● Generous civil service pension based on defined benefit scheme, with employer contributions of 28.97% from April 1st 2024 (Contribution Rates)

● 25 days leave (plus bank holidays) and 1 privilege day usually taken around the Kings’ birthday. 5 additional days of leave once you have reached 5 years of service.

● Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!

● Wellbeing support including access to the Calm app.

● Bike loans up to £2500 and secure bike parking (subject to availability and location)

● Season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and eye-care vouchers.

● 5 days volunteering paid leave.

● Free membership to BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.

● Some offices may have a subsidised onsite Gym.

Person Specification

Essential

Strong knowledge of data science (e.g. machine learning and natural language processing) and experience leading teams to deliver data science projects / products, ideally in cloud computing environments
Strong programming knowledge and experience delivering projects using Python
Strong strategic thinking and problem solving to support organisational objectives, with ability to identify opportunities for data science and promote adoption and learning of new tools and techniques
A track record of developing strong quality assurance, including producing robust and reproducible analysis using modern version control software.
Ability to effectively communicate with and influence diverse stakeholder groups to deliver data science projects / products, including being able to explain data concepts and practices to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC clearance.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

Behaviours

The following behaviours will be tested:

Changing & improving
Communicating and Influencing
Managing a quality service

In your examples you please include evidence on ‘how’ you demonstrated the requirements and the impact of your work, as well as ‘what’ you did.

Technical – Data science skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

data science expertise
working practices
programming and coding skills

A diverse panel will review your application against the Person Specification above.

Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a 1-hour panel interview held via video conference. At the interview you will be asked to give a five-minute presentation on a data science project you have delivered. Details of this will be sent to candidates before the interview.

Should we receive a high volume of applications, a pre-sift based on strong knowledge of data science (e.g. machine learning and natural language processing) and experience leading teams to deliver data science projects / products, ideally in cloud computing environments will be conducted before the sift.

Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application.

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.

How to Apply

Candidates must submit an anonymised CV and personal statement (you will not be considered if you do not provide both)

Your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 750 words and should give us examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. Consider giving an example for each bullet point and use work you have completed to demonstrate how you meet each one.

All the listed requirements are important for the job, however we do not expect candidates to be an expert in all of them. Please provide as much evidence as you can and make sure you cover ‘how’ you demonstrated the requirements and the impact of your work, as well as ‘what’ you did.

If you are interested in applying but are not sure you have all the skills listed, please do apply and give us the opportunity to consider you as a candidate.

Your CV should be no more than 2 pages long and show us your work history and previous experience. It should be well structured, succinct and written in clear language. Try to avoid listing technology keywords; we are interested in how you have used different tools to solve problems.

We are recruiting using a combination of the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability and Success Profiles Frameworks. We will assess your Experience, Technical Skills and the following Behaviours during the assessment process:

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Terms & Conditions

Please review our Terms and Conditions which set out how we recruit and provide further information related to the role and salary arrangements.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact digitalanddatarecruitment@justice.gov.uk

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 7957

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

Allowance

£56532 - £73450 National (which may include an allowance of up to £16918)

£61201 - £78225 London (which may include an allowance of up to £17024)

Ministry of Justice

7957 - Principle Data Scientist

General Information

Descriptions & requirements

The Role

Key Responsibilities:

Benefits

Person Specification

How to Apply

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Application form stage assessments

Interview stage assessments

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